This Bacon Jalapeno Cheese Ball recipe is hands down the most popular appetizer I take to parties and pot lucks. With everyone’s favorite Southwestern ingredients rolled into one tidy package, it’s Irresistible and show stopping.
Cream cheese and shredded cheddar, kicked up with diced jalapenos, savory with bits of bacon, spiced with cumin and cilantro and finished with a squeeze of lime and you’ve got yourself a Texas style cheese ball winner.
Who can resist a jalapeno cheese ball with bacon?
It’s a perfect party appetizer because it’s easy to make, it can be made ahead to time, and there’s bacon involved.
It’s a perfect appetizer for the holidays, and even more perfect for football party food.
The only thing you’ll bring home is a shiny clean plate and spreader.
Every party needs this Southwestern cheese ball appetizer. Be ready to share the recipe, because they’ll ask.
Let’s take a look.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Cheddar Cheese
- Cream Cheese
- Cilantro
- Bacon
- Jalapeno Pepper
- Pecans
- Garlic
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Lime Juice
- Spices: New Mexico Chile Powder and Cumin
Ingredient Substitutions
- Chile Pepper: If jalapeno peppers are simply too spicy for you, substitute chopped Poblano Pepper.
- Pecans: Walnuts will also work here.
- Chile Powder: I almost exclusively use New Mexico Red Chile Powder in all of my recipes. If you don’t have access, use Ancho Chile Powder or Chipotle Chile Powder. Keep in mind Chipotle chile powder will bring a smoky flavor.
Step By Step Instructions, It’s Easy
- Step 1: Mix together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, cilantro, garlic, cumin, cayenne, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, half of the diced jalapeños and half of the crumbled cooked bacon.
- Step 2: Using a sturdy spatula or spoon, mix the ingredients until well blended. Taste and adjust seasonings and add salt.
- Step 3: Place the roasted pecans and remaining diced jalapeños and bacon on a plate. Stir together so well mixed. With your hands, roll the cheese mixture into a ball, then place on the plate and roll in the jalapeños, bacon and pecans until covered.
- Step 4: Chill covered for at least an hour before serving. Serve with crackers.
Yes. That’s the beauty of this recipe. Make the cheeseball a couple of days in advance. It will allow the flavors to blend and marry.
Cut the top off the jalapeno peppers and using the handle of a fork or spoon, scrape out the seeds and veins. This is where the heat lies. Slice the jalapeno pepper open and cut out any remaining veins. Then chop.
The cheese ball itself is naturally gluten free. If served with gluten free crackers or vegetables, then yes, you’ve created a gluten free cheese ball appetizer.
What To Serve With A Cheese Ball
- A sturdy cracker is best. Triscuits, Ritz Crackers, and Club Crackers work well here.
- Tortilla chips are too fragile, even if you use a cheese spreader.
- Vegetables such as carrot, bell peppers, sliced cucumber and celery sticks are a good choice.
- Pretzels
- Bread: Choose a slender baguette. Slice thin and serve. Or place slices on a sheet pan, brush with olive oil or butter and lightly toast.
Tips For Success
- Allow at least one hour for cream cheese to come to room temperature.
- Purchase good quality cheddar cheese and grate it yourself. Bagged pre-shredded contains fillers to keep it from sticking together in the bag, it simply doesn’t taste as good as freshly grated.
- Cut the Jalapeno pepper in as small of pieces as you can. This will distribute that beautiful chile pepper flavor and heat throughout the cheese ball.
- Make sure your bacon is cooked to a crispy stage. Even crispy, the bacon will soften a bit when combined with the cheese.
- Remove cheese ball about 15 minutes before serving so it softens slightly. This will simply make spreading on a cracker easier.
In Conclusion
I hope you give this Jalapeno Cheese-Ball Recipe recipe a try. It’s a perfect cheese ball appetizer for the holidays and beyond. And a great appetizer idea for a Super Bowl Party.
A recipe adapted from Lisa Fain, Homesick Texan.
More Cheese-y Party Appetizer Ideas
- Sun-dried Tomato Stuffed Brie Appetizer
- Chile Cheesecake, A Mexican Cheesecake Appetizer Recipe
- Smoky Pimento Cheese Spread
- Baked Three Cheese Appetizer with Pesto and Marinara
- Dubliner Cheese Spread
- Mexican Queso Blanco Dip
And if you’re looking for party appetizer recipes, don’t miss my Appetizer Category. You’ll find tons of finger food ideas. Including the most popular appetizer recipe on my site, Pear and Blue Cheese Crostini.
Bacon Jalapeno Cheese Ball Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 4 ounces
- 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon New Mexico Chile Powder or cayenne
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 jalapeños stems and seeds removed, diced, divided
- 6 ounces cooked bacon about 6 slices of regular bacon or 4 slices thick cut bacon
- 1/2 teaspoon Salt
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans roasted
- Crackers for serving
Instructions
- Mix together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, cilantro, garlic, cumin, cayenne, lime juice, Worcestershire sauce, half of the diced jalapeños and half of the crumbled cooked bacon. Taste and adjust seasonings and add salt.
- Place the roasted pecans and remaining diced jalapeños and bacon on a plate. Stir together so well mixed. With your hands, roll the cheese mixture into a ball, then place on the plate and roll in the jalapeños, bacon and pecans until covered.
- Chill covered for at least an hour before serving. Serve with crackers.
Notes
- Allow at least one hour for cream cheese to come to room temperature.
- Purchase good quality cheddar cheese and grate it yourself. Bagged pre-shredded contains fillers to keep it from sticking together in the bag, it simply doesn’t taste as good as freshly grated.
- Remove cheeseball about 15 minutes before serving so it softens slightly.
- Cut the Jalapeno pepper in as small of pieces as you can. This will distribute that beautiful chile pepper flavor and heat throughout the cheese ball.
- Make sure your bacon is cooked to a crispy stage. Even crispy, the bacon will soften a bit when combined with the cheese.
Nutrition
Bacon Jalapeno Cheese Ball Recipe …It’s What’s for a Great Pot Luck Appetizer.
Why Trust These Recipes? Lea Ann Brown has lived, worked and played in Colorado for 45 years. She has immersed herself in the Colorado Culinary space, is a Culinary School Graduate and publishes her Colorado food Blog, Cooking On The Ranch.
This looks and sounds soooo yummy! I need to take an appetizer to a wine tasting party this weekend. Both red and white will be tasted. Will this recipe work??
If you’re talking about the bites, yes, it would work great. Just preassemble on a baking sheet at home, cover with plastic wrap and then bake when you arrive at the party.
Yum! Bacon and cheese – perfect holiday app combo!
Oh gosh, this does look good. Love anything with jalapenos in it. Beautiful plate and cheese knife, too!
You’ve got to give it a try Karen.
Thank you Barbara
My mom used to make a cheese ball every new year’s eve .. we loved them!! It has be awhile since she has made one, thanks for the lovely reminder!
And this kicked up version is really good.
I haven’t made a cheese ball in ages either but this is a recipe that makes me want to make one again. Love the spices and peppers and the bacon is always a winner. I see the Penzey’s carries aleppo pepper so I’ve added it to my next trip there to buy some!
Yes, I’ve also seen it at Penzy’s. Great store. You’re gonna love this one Susan.
This cheese ball would be really nice for entertaining holidays or otherwise. It really brings the traditional cheese ball up a few notches. Very nice.
Happy New Year to you.
Velva
Thank you Velva. I really can’t wait to make it again. It’s a great crowd pleaser.
I MUST make this one – it has all my favorite flavors and you can bet I’ll be on the look out for aleppo pepper flakes. Thanks for the tip on a new way to heat up my dishes. I really like that purdy plate and spreader. It’s no wonder we have so many darned dishes when they photograph so beautifully. 😉
I thought you might like this one! It has your name written all over it. I’ve had that plate for several years, think it came from Crate and Barrel.
Saw bacon, jalapeño, and cheese call out to me on erecipecards and had to come check it out!! Looks absolutely perfect and I love your addition of the Aleppo pepper. This would not last long at my house!
Thanks for stopping by Karen. It did not last long around here either.
This would definitely be a hit in my house. The guys would love it! Have a fantastic day today, and a terrific new year to come!
Thanks Kristi
Your pictures are gorgeous 🙂 Happy New Year! And thanks for the info on the spice shop … I never knew there was one by me! I am definitely going to check that out!
Happy New Year Jane. There’s one in downtown Denver also, on Raven street.
Oh yes, I totally wanted to make this one, too. It looks fantastic…wish I could have some. Happy New Year to you and yours, Lea Ann 🙂
Ya gotta give it a try Heather. Happy New Year.
Now that is what I am talking about. Yummy!
Happy New Year ChileB
Normally when I see a cheese ball, I’m like, “Meh” but this one would definitely get my attention. It’s an ABT (smoked stuffed pepper) in ball form, how could I not love it?
I certainly loved it. 🙂
Num. Hopefully you’ll be distributing these as gifts in the near future.
Well, if you twist my arm how about served at next Wine Time.
Ya ! yer cool.
Happy New Year to you too Dan. 🙂
I’ve never met a cheese ball I didn’t like and with the kicked up southwestern flavors, I’m sure I’d love this one – great shot of it as well. Hope you and Bob ring in the new year in fine fashion and I look forward to another year with you.
Thanks Larry, Happy New Year to you and Bev and look forward to more of your posts also.
You always find the neatest spices Lea Ann. I’ve never heard of aleppo pepper flakes. Besides a lot of fabulous flavors, they make the cheese ball look so pretty. I didn’t make a cheese ball this year, probably because (come close I’ll whisper ……a diet) it’s hard not to resist eating some before you present it to your guests.
I hadn’t thought of it being a southern thing, but now that you mention it, it probably is. I’ve made or eaten cheese balls all of my life and if you could hear my accent, there would be no doubt that I’m from the south.
Happy new year to you and your family.
Sam
Oh no … not a (whispering) diet!!! 🙂 You must try aleppo pepper flakes Sam. I like their level of heat and flavor.
I haven’t made a cheese ball…EVER. Uh, yeah. Need to change that.
EVER???? I think it must be your young age. They were popular waaaay back when.
Like you I haven’t had a cheese ball in a very long time; it’s funny how things like this seem to go out of favor but for no particular reason. I can see the appeal…no one made a cheese ball back in the day with this measure of heat! I know I would love the combination of cool and creamy cheese combined with the heat of the peppers. YUM!
I agree Barb. Remember when cheese balls were all the rage. Every once in a while I’ve purchased them over the years, but haven’t made one in a long time. This is a good recipe, you should give it a try.
what a great idea! it looks incredibly good and perfect for tomorrow
Thanks for stopping by and the comment. I agree, perfect for a party.
Oh boy, I know what I’m making for New Year’s day. I have some dried aleppo peppers that I got from Marx Foods some time ago for one of their contests so I’m going to sprinkle them over this. Have a great New Year celebration. Hope to get together with you early in 2012!
Thanks Karen. Happy New Year to you and see you soon.